Mike Huckabee may have finished third in New Hampshire, but the Iowa GOP winner is no one-trick pony ( and if anyone is short-sighted enough to believe that, we would draw their attention to a certain press conference, followed by equally certain predictions). We caught a Huckabee hoe-down on the eve of the New Hampshire primary, and were instantly struck with the feeling that we had happened on something big. First of all, it was packed — yes, it was the American Legion Post #7 in Rochester, but still, it was a solid crowd, and a steadfast one: Huckabee was late jetting back in from taping Letterman in New York, and the event dragged on through a few unplanned speakers, with the crowd patiently cheering and hooting appropriately all the while. Second, it was fun. We walked in to a kickin' band — specifically, the NH rock band Mama Kicks, who greeted us with a cover of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" (possibly goading the crowd into voting Huckabee with the line: "You know you want it if it makes you feel good"). Third, when Huckabee did get there, he was his usual masterful self on stage, matching confidence with aw-shucks ordinary guy-ness (yes, he's the guy you work with, not the boss who fired you, cough Mitt cough). Fourth, there was homemade chili. It's a good thing we're Canadian, our votes are easily bought.
We had managed to find the place by following the long lines of parked cars along a dark side street leading out of town (almost as good as a GPS system...earlier we were able to find the nearby Obama event by following the flashing lights and policemen, but had been told that it was full, and all but turned away). Standing in the long line-up to get a plate of homemade chili and corn bread while the music played (waiting to get their fix to the licks of Mama Kicks), we met two woman who'd come from Florida to stump for their candidate, telling us that they'd supported him since March and were gratified that the rest of the GOP seemed to have caught up. (Did you catch that, Giuliani? They drove from Florida. Where they'd been fans since March.) We asked the woman dishing the homemade chili how many candidates had visited the Legion, and she said that Barack Obama had been there a few weeks earlier, but that at that event there hadn't been food (maybe like Chuck Norris, Obama supporters can eat just one Lay's potato chip?).
The so-called "chat and chili" was a decidedly family affair, with camera men forced to negotiate front-row floor space with children and toddlers alike (one apple-cheeked girl carried a homemade sign which read "Huck and Chuck 4 Kids" in colorful bubble letters). Moms bouncing babies against their chests were found at regular intervals; we cooed over one three-week old alas not young enough to be whipped into a frenzy over Mike's commitment to the second amendment. While she waited for her husband to beat it back to New Hampshier from tape the David Letterman show, almost-self-proclaimed future first lady Janet Huckabee, a statuesque commanding woman, regaled the crowd with tales of her adventures jumping out of planes with the Marine Corps ("I pulled my 9G's," she said. "Take-off is awesome.") Maybe someone needs to create a fact sheet for Janet, because we're not entirely sure that she couldn't kick Chuck Norris' ass). She also revealed the Huckabees and the Norris' had only known each other for just over a month (but they liked each other lots).
While the commonly-held wisdom is that celebrity backers can only do so much for a candidate (sure, Oprah helped Obama in Iowa, but how much? And why do people keep mentioning Bonnie Raitt?), Huckabee has certainly tapped into a winner with Chuck Norris whose appeal to the all-coveted youth vote was apparent last night (the loudest attendees last night were a group of college-aged boys, who appeared to have come out solely to see Chuck) (see floppy-haired gang below). Furthermore, as an anecdote about his visit to — and reception by — troops overseas indicated, Norris can also appeal to the military vote (apart from starring in testosterone heavy films, Norris is a 4-year veteran of the Air Force) — giving him a unique one-two punch, or, as the case may be, kick. These are two constituencies that Huckabee might otherwise have found difficult to crack.
Huckabee eventually arrived, sounding slightly breathless, as though he might have jogged there from the airport (a possibility, we suppose) or at least walked quickly. Taking to the stage he stuck mainly to his stump speech, hitting on immigration: "There is more paperwork required to get on an airplane than there is to get in the country"; Oil dependence: "These folks have had us over a barrel - literally - for way too long"; and the aforementioned 2nd Amendment: "If someone asks me about the 2nd amendment, I don't go off and start talking about how I love hunging and have been a lifelong hunter — but never had a hunting license..." Zing! The crowd liked that one. (He also said that thing about being your co-worker and not your evil slick greedy CEO boss firing you and all your buddies who might evoke the image of someone whose name might possibly rhyme with Schmitt Schmomney).
Interestingly, Huckabee (and a surrogate, too) uses the phrase "Greatest Generation" (as he did in his Iowa victory speech), just as Giuliani did in his tv ad, perhaps to invoke that spirit of military service since he does not have that record himself. Huckabee closed by saying that the generations to come were the greatest generation, and illustrated with a story about his father, and how he had once taken him to see the Governor of Arkansas, because, as he told young Mike, "You may live your whole life and you may never meet a real governor!" Nice laugh line, and nicer story. There was clearly a better chance of meeting a governor in New Hampshire, never mind not one but TWO former governors of Arkansas (and also, a former President, but that one you wouldn't find at a Huckabee rally).
There has been much talk about how Obama is a movement candidate a la Robert Kennedy. But the Huckabee event last night certainly felt like its own movement of sorts, drawing a crowd of all ages and income brackets. Warm, intimate, and fun, Huckabee exudes comfort and familiarity and a common-sense tone that stands in stark contrast to just about every other GOP candidate. He's also the sort of person we imagine just about everyone would want to have a beer with — a factor that not even the last eight years may be able to discount.
Here's a short video of him joining Mama Kicks for some licks; below, pics!
Helpful lady serves up delicious chili.
They may like Mike, but they love Chuck. We did not dwell on possible rhymes here for "Chuck."
A young citizen journalist captures Huckabee, no doubt for his blog.
This kid is carrying the "Huck & Chuck 4 Kids" sign we mentioned earlier. Bubble letters!
Cute kid stands up on Mommy's lap to get a better look. It was incredible how well-behaved the kids in the audience were, given the length of the programme. Nary a wail to be heard. Unless it was drowned in the chanting of "We Like Mike!"
Chips or Huckabee sign? Well, duh, wouldn't you choose the chips? When the kid wasn't looking, we swiped a few.
All photos by Glynnis MacNicol and Rachel Sklar
Sometimes, when you have video, you think, well, why not just post it? So you do: